A Struggle for a Ring — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

120 A HUSBAND’S CAUTION. ‘Qn the contrary, I have no news at all; it is simply a reminder of some promise I made some short time ago.” ‘‘Who is the letter from?” persisted his sister, really alarmed by the pained expression of his face. ‘*No one whom you know, Gertie,” he replied. ‘‘ There is nothing the matter really, believe me.” But when his sister had quitted the room, he sat down at the library table, and wrote: ‘¢DeAR AILIE:—For the future address me as ‘Dear Vivian,’ not as ‘My Dear Husband.’ I might leave the letters about, and then it would be dangerous. We are very busy preparing for my sister’s wedding—it is quite impossible for me to say when I shall see you. I hope you are well and happy. Be sure to let me know if you want anything. Yours affectionately, . v.00,” He sealed that letter and took it to the post; he was quite determined that no servants’ gossip should cause Suspicion. How many long, sad hours had Ailie spent in waiting for that letter; she had longed for it until she was sick at heart. Hettie brought it to her in her own room; she hid it beneath her apron. ‘“Now, Miss Ailie, as that fine husband of yours calls you, guess what I have for you here?” Alice sprang up from her seat, pale and trembling. ‘‘Oh, Hettie, Hettie! is it a letter?” she cried. “‘Yes; it is a letter. Your fine gentleman husband has written it at last; but I shall not stay to hear what he says. The very idea,” she added to herself, ‘‘of loving any man like that!” Alice never heard her. She was in a mad fever of im- patience to read this letter. She had waited for it, prayed for it, longed for it; and now it was here. She kissed the white envelope with passionate tears; she cried out that @ Eo) (E(0) mn 900ks. anle